Air Combat Maneuvering
Flight Procedures
2
3
1
2
1
3
2
3
1
3
Attacker
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Defender
Figure 15: HORIZONTAL SCISSORS
Adjust your attitude as your airspeed reaches 140-150 KIAS, and maintain that speed. Once you are
behind the bandit’s wingline, reverse and attempt to align fuselages while maintaining 19-21 units AOA.
Unfortunately, estimating nose-to-tail in a scissors is extremely difficult. With experience, your timing
and assessment of all the variables will be more accurate. But for now, a general rule states that when
you are on or aft of the bandit’s 3/9 line and your nose is on him, you should start your reversal. A
reversal forward of the 3/9 line may allow you a snap shot; however, you may lose the advantage. The
bandit will time his reversals depending on how effectively you generate nose-to-tail and execute
reversals. A rapid or close-aboard overshoot signals to the bandit that he should reverse early; a
slower overshoot with nose-to-tail separation signals to the bandit that he should delay his reversal
until the fighter overshoots. The bandit is trying to gain lateral separation in an attempt to create more
angles on subsequent passes. You should prevent excessive lateral separation from developing. If no
nose-to-tail exists, reverse as you cross the bandit’s flight path.
At this point you should be established in a horizontal scissors with your aircraft at approximately
120 KIAS, 10-15 degrees nose-high, 45 degrees AOB, and 20 units AOA. During your reversals and
subsequent maneuvering, utilize rudder and back stick to maintain optimum performance while
monitoring your aircraft’s attitude, airspeed, and AOA. You may find yourself wanting to overbank the
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